Brace end



W. A. SMITH Dec. 27, 1932.

BRACE END Filed July 25, 1932 Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRACE END Application filed July 25, 1932, Serial No. 624,557, and in Great Britain September 17, 1931.

This invention relates to brace ends and especially although not exclusively to such devices for use with the shoulder straps of workmens and other overalls and has for its object so to construct such devices that whilst being extremely strong and eflicient in action, they readily can be wholly detached when it is desired to clean the garment or for other purposes.

Brace ends constructed according to the invention comprise two relatively slidable parts, one of which is formed as a cam surface to produce a wedging action on the brace strap which is passed between said parts, the other part incorporating side lugs with inturned extremities which co-operate with said cam surface and inter-engaging portions being formed on said lugs and in said cam surface to produce an additional retaining action between the said parts in the locking position.

One or both of the relatively movable parts are furnished with teeth, serrations or otherwise to increase the grip and in a preferred construction, the interengaging portions consist of recesses, projections or the like in said cam surface engaging the rounded under surfaces of the lugs to maintain the parts in definite extreme positions.

Suitable means are provided in connection with the two clamping members for engaging with a detachable or other button carried by the garment, such means preferably compris- N ing shaped springy loops of bent wire of any suitable construction.

In order that the invention may be better understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows in front elevation a preferred embodiment of brace end constructed according to the invention in the gripping position.

Fig. 2 shows a section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a similar view to Fig. 1 but with the parts in the free position, and

Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 3.

In the drawing, the brace end comprises a back plate 5 of hard brass or other suitable material terminating in its lower end with turned-round lugs 6 forming bearings for the upper end of an inverted U-shaped loop 7 of hard brass, itself terminating in eyes 8 forming connections for the button-holding loop 9. As will be realized, the loops 7 and 9 form a means of a known character to receive and hold the metallic button or the like usual in such garments. The sides of the plate 5 in an intermediate position are extended up- I wardly into two lugs 10 which are turned round at 11 and downwardly at 12, the lower edges of the down-turned portions 12 being rounded as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

13 is a sliding plate having a rolled-round upper edge 14 and bent as shown in section at Figs. 2 and 4 and terminating in an edge parallel to the rolled-round portion 14 having gripping teeth 15.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the outer surface of the member 13 is humped so that it (50118111111368 a cam for engagement by the turned-down portions 12.

The action and dimensions are such that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, a gap is left between the plate 5 and pr the rolled portion 14 of the plate 13 and the teeth 15 of the plate 13, to enable the shoulder strap or the like 16 readily to be slidden between the parts, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. By pushing upwards on the rolled edge 14, the members are brought into the position shown in Fig. 2, where the strap 16 is gripped between the plate 13 and the plate 5 by the teeth 15, and by the rear of the rolled portion 14. Moreover. the normal pull upwardly upon such strap increases the grip.

To facilitate the action and provide a catch means for holding the parts in the engaged position, the plate 13 is formed with notches or recesses 17 in which the turned-round portions 12 of the lugs 10 engage, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2.

To give greater clearance, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the plate 13 may also be provided with other notches or recesses 18. In some cases the plate 13 may have projections 19 at the lower corners (shown dotted in Fig. 3) to co-operate with the lugs 10 to assist in maintaining the said plate in position when the parts are in the free position. 1

It will be readily understood that the brace end can be adjusted with facility, into any desired position on the strap 16 and that when once set it is firmly held in position.

When it is desired for any purpose, for example for washing the garment, to remove the brace end, it is only necessary to force downwardly upon the rolled end 14 to bring the parts from the position shown in Fi 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and tius leave the brace end freeto be removed from the strap. By reverse action the parts are as easily re-engaged.

In place of turned-down portions such as 12 engaging the two edges of the relatively sliding; member 13, in some cases an engaging member may extend from side to side over the relatively sliding member 13, and ico-act with the said member throughout its entire length, or in any desired position or positions. Again, if desired the co-operat- .mg-engaging surface of the plate 5 may be formed with serrations or roughenings and in some cases may be shaped with a wedge or wedges, or other surface, to increase the grip between the parts.

The invention is not limited to the precise forms or details of constructlon described, as

these may be varied to suit particular cases.

.VVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America sociated with a, flexible brace strap, comprising two relatively slidable parts, one of which is formed as a cam surface to produce a wedging action on the brace strap which is passed vbetween said parts, the other part incorporating side lugs with inturned extremities which -c'o-operate with said cam surface and interengaging portions being formed on said lugs and in said cam surface to produce an additional retaining action between the said parts in the locking position.

-. 2. A brace end adapted to be removably associated with a flexible brace strap comprising a plate member, a button receiving ;member fixed thereto, a wedge-like part slid- .able over said plate and having serrations on one edge thereof to engage the brace strap, said plate member having bent side lugs, and

said wedge like part having recesses engageable by said side lugs to produce an additional retaining action between the parts ,when in locking position. 3. A brace end as claimed in claim 2, in.

which the wedge-like part is curved towards the platemember near the edge provided with serrations while the opposite edge is rolled over on itself.

LA brace end adapted to be removably associated with a flexible brace strap, comprising a plate member, a button receiving member fixed thereto, a wedge like part slidable over said plate and having serrations on one edge to engage the brace strap, said plate member having upturned side lugs provided with downturned rounded end portions facing said plate member, said wedge like member having slots adapted to be engaged by said rounded end portions of the lugs to produce an additional retaining action between the plate and the wedge like member when in locking position.

'5. A brace end as claimed in claim 4, in which the wedge like part is provided with two sets of slots to produce an additional retalning action when the said part is in either extreme position.

6 A brace end as claimed in claim 4, in which the wedge like part is provided with projecting abutment portions to prevent removal from the plate member, said abutment. portions being adapted to engage said lugs on said plate member.

In witness whereof I aflix my si nature.

WILLIAM ARTHUR sifirn. 

